Dark magic was used to disguise her in childhood from her uncle, who would have all the women in his line killed in case they tried to take his throne, but the Oracle predicts that Tamír will be Queen, and many people go to unbelievable lengths to make sure that it happens.
King Erius' rule brought famine, plague, and invasion - and his fear of a child with a stronger claim to the throne led him to order the deaths of all girls of the royal line, save his sister.
He grows up with a mother driven mad from the grief of losing a child, and a father who is rarely home because of the war that plagues their country.
Eventually she must reveal herself as female, and fight her cousin in civil war, in order to take her place on the throne and repair the country her uncle had tarnished in his rejection of the Oracle's declaration that there must be a Queen of Skala.
She is mentioned in the Nightrunner Series as one of the greatest Skalan Queens, being responsible for the Great Canal, the new capital of Rhiminee', and the Third Oreska.
She is also in charge of helping her people in times of peace, by acting as the judge for public disputes, as well as controlling taxes, food availability, plague and more.
This is due to the prophecy made at the Afran Oracle in Skala, which states: So long as a daughter of Thelátimos’ line defends and rules, Skala shall never be subjugated.This prophecy was made during The Great War with Plenimar, and King Thelatimos instantly handed the crown to his daughter Gherilain, who quickly led the country to victory.
Then Gherilain II; followed by Iaair, who was known to have fought a dragon; Klia, who killed a lion; Klie; Markira; Oslie, who had six fingers; and Marnil, who began the tradition of having more than one consort.
In order to save the future of Skala, the True Queen, Tamír, must survive the murderous schemes of her usurper uncle and live to grow to maturity.
But in order to provide the magical disguise which alone could preserve her life, the well-meaning protagonists must perpetrate a terrible act - to kill an innocent baby, the future Queen's twin brother, at the very moment of his drawing his first breath.
There is a clear difference between the wizard Arkoniel - who tends to be more compassionate - and his teacher and mentor Iya, who while a positive character is more ready to make ruthless decisions.
Yet, due to the magical reasons which are an important part of the plot, in the underlying, essential identity Tobin had always been a disguised girl.
In the cataclysmic scene of magical change this becomes an evident physical fact, and Prince Tobin becomes Queen Tamír, shedding the male body and gaining a fully functioning female one.
There is also the problematic relationship with Ki, who had been the close boy companion of Prince Tobin and whose transformation into the Queen's lover or Consort is far from smooth or easy.